15 October 2025

Bowl 4 Him: We're all on the same team

When Natalie Chamberlain, Ron Taylor and Brownyn Sweeney, a small team of volunteers at the Camden RSL Bowls Club in New South Wales decided to host a bowls day to raise awareness for prostate cancer in September, they had no idea it would strike such a chord with the local community.

With just over 80 members, including 62 men, the Camden RSL Bowls Club proves that small clubs can make a big difference.

Earlier this year, the group hosted a pink-themed event to raise awareness for breast cancer.

The success of that day inspired Natalie, Ron and Brownyn to think bigger.

 “After the women’s event, we said, ‘Why don’t we do something for the blokes, too’?” Mrs Chamberlain said.

“We wanted to get men talking, learning, and taking their health seriously.”

The result was Bowl 4 Him, a charity tournament raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer — a disease that affects more than 29,000 Australian men each year.

Mrs Chamberlain and her team spent weeks rallying local businesses for support, securing raffle prizes, and spreading the word through the community.

“We had incredible support. We received movie tickets, car detailing and carwash vouchers, cash donations, meat trays just to name a few -  everyone wanted to help.”

On the day, 56 men registered to play. The greens were filled with laughter, friendly competition, and plenty of conversation about a topic many men still find hard to discuss.

The Hon. Jim Lloyd, a former federal minister and PCFA ambassador, himself a passionate advocate for prostate cancer, attended as a guest speaker, sharing his own experiences and encouraging regular check-ups.

“It wasn’t just about bowling,” Mrs Chamberlain said.

“It was about giving men a comfortable space to talk. You could see the difference. The awareness, the connection, the mateship. It really meant something.”

Funds raised from the event will support PCFA in its efforts to fund research, raise awareness campaigns, and fund specialist nursing services that assist men throughout diagnosis and recovery.

Mrs Chamberlain hopes Bowl 4 Him will now become an annual fixture.

 “We’re already planning next year’s event. The response was so positive — the guys are asking when the next one is!”

Mrs Chamberlain believes that if this helps even one man get checked earlier or reach out for support, it’s worth it.

“Bowl 4 Him isn’t just a game. It’s a reminder that we’re all on the same team.”